Jesse Lewis Warrick Jr., a retired master sergeant, state
employee and businessman died in the arms of his sons and grandson
on Friday, July 25, 2003, at North Bay Hospital.
Jesse Lewis Warrick Jr., a retired master sergeant, state employee and businessman died in the arms of his sons and grandson on Friday, July 25, 2003, at North Bay Hospital. He was 84.
Mr. Warrick was married to Nell Warrick for more than 60 years, raising three sons Jesse III of Fairfield, Gregory of Morgan Hill and Russell of Morgan Hill. She preceded him in death.
Mr. Warrick, or “Two Gun” as his close friends called him, was born in Seigo, Texas, Aug. 11, 1918. He attended Texas A&. in 1937, where he played baseball.
In 1938, Mr. Warrick joined the Army Air Corp where he served a distinguished 22-year career, retiring in 1960. During his Air Force career, he traveled the world including stops in New Guinea, Europe, Guam and Japan, serving as an aviation logistics sergeant. There were many tales told to his three sons about aborigines, catching and wrestling 5-foot kangaroos and meeting headhunters in the jungles of New Guinea.
Prior to his retirement, he was awarded the highest peacetime award for heroism, when he pulled an injured airman from a burning C-124 Globemaster that had crashed just outside Travis Air Force Base. Choosing to downplay the incident, Mr. Warrick never mentioned the crash to friends or family. It was several days later, that Air Force officials found out his actions and awarded him with this distinguished award along with a parade in his honor.
After retiring from the military, Mr. Warrick took on a second career as a correctional officer for the state of California, retiring from the Vacaville Medical Facility in 1977. While working at the medical facility, he served as president of the California Correctional Officers Association, representing the interests of the officers to prison officials and state government officials and lobbyists.
In 1975, prior to his second retirement, Mr. Warrick and his wife, Nell, started a CB radio business. Once retired from the state, he and Nell traveled the western states in their 30-foot trailer, selling radio equipment at state fairs and CB jamborees. For the next 28 years, he continued the CB radio business in a small shop at home. His son Jesse continues his business today.
Mr. Warrick had been a Mason and a Shriner for more than 50 years and just last year, he participated in the Shriner’s annual parade. His other interests were gardening, fishing and golf. He was an accomplished golfer, playing on the correctional officers folf team for more than 15 years.
He was one of those unforgettable characters; raised during the depression, fought in two wars, traveled the world, having multiple careers, a great memory, quick wit, and was a wonderful brother, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
He is survived by his three sons, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and brother Bill Warrick.
Services will begin at 11 a.m. at St. Marks Lutheran Church, 1600 Union Ave., Fairfield.
